Lewis Dobbin has revealed that his long-term goal remains to play for Aston Villa, nearly two years after joining the club from Everton in the summer of 2024. The 23-year-old forward, who moved to Villa Park in a separate deal that saw Tim Iroegbunam head to Goodison Park, has spent the intervening period on loan in the Championship.
Loan Spells and Performance
Last season, Dobbin found his footing at Preston North End under Paul Heckingbottom, scoring 10 goals and registering eight assists. However, the 2024/25 campaign proved more challenging. He struggled at West Brom in the first half of the season before being recalled and sent to Norwich City for the second half. At Norwich, he scored two goals in his first 10 games but then missed the remainder of the season due to injury.
Ambition to Play Under Unai Emery
Despite the setbacks, Dobbin remains focused on his ultimate ambition: playing for Aston Villa under manager Unai Emery. Speaking to the Lancashire Post at the end of March, Dobbin said: “I just take it game by game and see what happens. Football's a weird game so you never know what's around the corner. I've just got to perform at my highest level and see where that takes me.”
He added: “I'm contracted to Villa. I went there with the aspirations to play for Villa. That's always my goal, that's always the long-term goal. Hopefully, I get the chance one day but if not, it's not the end of the world. I'll back myself to have a good move if I was to leave Villa. We'll just see what happens in the future but definitely my aim is to play for Villa one day.”
Uncertain Future
Dobbin's future at Villa Park appears uncertain, with his contract running and no clear path to the first team. However, his determination to earn a chance under Emery remains undimmed. The forward's comments reflect a player who is realistic about the challenges but optimistic about his potential.
